Regulatory Feedback

With a blog title like “Regulatory Feedback” one could expect an update on our council policy work or perhaps the current state of science on self reinforcing feedback loops in the climate system…or perhaps even personal relationships and patience. Maybe it will be some of all of this woven into a muddy mess where our public feedback would be “what the heck are they trying to say anyways?” But before this, a quick notice about the nursery.

Skirret

Sweet Potato slips

Sales of Perennial Edible Plants: Saturday April 1, from 10am-2pm. Special featured plants this week are: Full list here with prices

Ann and I are sometimes at odds with each other when it comes to decisions…aren’t all couples? Even at the council table it is not usual for us to vote differently. One of the hardest things in a relationship is to self regulate and listen to feedback. Our culture has generally trained us to push back and resist feedback while becoming emotional and effectively shutting down our capacity to hear.

(Ann) It seems that collectively, much of humanity has lots the ability to receive feedback from each other, from other cultures, and most importantly from nature. Feedback is absolutely everywhere… IF we pay attention and IF we are willing to hear it, see it. Our culture is by and large oblivious to feedback, but if we do hear it, our egos are almost always in the way.

Waiting for trees to get their leaves

Landscaping Lower Garden – Thanks to Tayler and Solara and their interns

(Gord) Anyways, always start positive… right? Ann gives great feedback. Last week in our post I indicated Ann was very observant? Wow – two positives. (Ann) In our shared desire to install “Eco-Sense” systems that integrate food, water, energy, lifestyle to create more biodiversity, more carbon sequestration, more resilience, and more abundance, we inevitably have an impact upon the land. (Gord) In this process, my desire is usually to “get ‘er done”… plant more, plant now. This results in rapid changes. (Ann) I’m more like storm water management with Gord being the storm water…Slow it Down, Spread it out, Sink it in.

(Gord) Tears and arguments have resulted from long discussions around expanding the gardens or gaining more sun from tree thinning. Let’s just say that we are stronger because of hearing each other and finding common ground (I hope Ann does not edit this). Ann has been the one to stand up for those without voices. (Ann’s edit – they actually have voices, they just speak another language – I hope Gord doesn’t edit that out). Non-human living beings created and shaped this land long before we arrived. Ann has been the one to hear the feedback and self regulate our activities, and slow the process down so that we can all adapt to the changes.

(Ann) The benefits of this are many. The first, being, that this gives us a chance to observe nature’s feedback. Another, is that slower change allows the ecosystem to adapt more incrementally. Also, we have both learned more about ourselves, each other, and how to hear nature. If we are designing with nature as our architect (as we say on all our tours), then we better listen to what our architect has to say. A final benefit is that we have learned to be patient… what are we in such a hurry for anyways?

2017: 7 people helping to get more materials on roof for growing sweet potatoes.

Interns adjusting solar PV to summer angle

2016: Sweet potatoes on the solar roof

2015 Solar roof…beginning of may and watermelons and squash thriving

2015: Watermelons on the solar roof

(Gord) I have learned to appreciate the wild and wooly edges that are as unkept as my beard and workshop, and see the benefits. The piles of broom from two years earlier have housed mice (which feed owls) and now house bumble bee colonies (that are the early pollinators). The snowberries and ocean spray that I struggle to have affection for are alive with bees and other pollinators drawing denser populations to the gardens all the while feeding the swallows and other song birds. History is also tied to place due to the spiritual and medicinal importance the snow berries are for our First Nations.

We need to steward and participate in this land. We can’t do that if we simply impose ourselves upon it in an abusive relationship. We need to hear the feedback in order to fall in love with this land. The same goes for the entire planet.